OCTOBER 22, 2009

IN THIS ISSUE

1. Benefits Information and Wellness Day is Monday

The Department of Human Resources will host a Benefits Information and Wellness Day Monday, Oct. 26, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the AMU Monaghan ballroom. Employees can receive door prizes from vendors, as well as free screenings for bone density, acupuncture, chiropractic care, heart disease and stroke. They will also be able to meet representatives of the benefit plans and HR benefits team.

HRA appointments also begin Monday. Employees can schedule their health risk assessment to qualify for a discounted 2010 health insurance premium by calling 1-877-765-3213 and pressing "1" to make an appointment for their on-campus HRA. Appointments are available Oct. 26 through Nov. 20. Employees can also see their primary care provider for a health risk assessment. Following the biometrics portion of the HRA, which includes a blood test for cholesterol, triglycerides and blood sugar, employees must complete an online questionnaire that creates a personalized report to help identify potential health concerns and lifestyle behaviors. HRA participation is open to all employees, whether they enroll in the Marquette insurance plan or not. Again this year, participation in the HRA will result in a cost-saving premium reduction for employees enrolling in the Marquette health insurance plan.

Employees who take a Medical Self-Care Quiz will be entered into a drawing for a Self-Care Guide at the Benefits Information and Wellness Day. The guide includes information on common and chronic conditions, aches and pains, medical consumerism, getting active and managing weight. Employees need only print out the quiz, fill it out and bring it to the Employee Wellness table at Benefits Information and Wellness Day to be eligible to receive one of the 100 guides that will be given away. The self-care quiz is not part of the HRA assessment process.

HR will hold Employee Assistance Days for one-on-one meetings with the benefits team:

2. Shoo the Flu is next week

Seasonal influenza vaccines will be available at Shoo the Flu (with pneumonia vaccines), Oct. 26 and 27, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., in the AMU first floor lobby. No appointment is necessary. Seasonal flu shots cost $30 (EPO reimbursement at 100 percent and PPO reimbursement at 80 percent, by year’s end). Medicare part B and Medicaid will also be accepted. Pneumonia shots will cost $45 (no insurance reimbursement). Cash and checks will be accepted.

Student Health Service is also offering the seasonal flu vaccine for employees and students in the lower level of Schroeder Complex and at sites across campus. Cost is $25. Cash, check, Mastercard/Visa and MU Cash are accepted. Student Health Service is unable to do third party billing; however, a receipt will be provided that can be submitted to insurance carriers. Call 8-7184 to schedule an appointment.

3. Upwardly Global founder Jane Leu will be social entrepreneur-in-residence

Jane Leu, an internationally recognized social entrepreneur, will be Marquette’s first social entrepreneur-in-residence, on campus from Oct. 27, through Nov. 7. During her residency, Leu will meet with classes, student organizations and faculty to explore a cross-disciplinary fit for social entrepreneurship at Marquette, both as a teaching tool and a lens through which graduates can view careers.

At a university-wide social event on Thursday, Oct. 29, Leu will share her story of how she identified a systemic problem affecting millions of immigrants and created an organization — Upwardly Global — to solve it. The event will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Olin Engineering 202. Leu will also host an open discussion on Marquette’s first social entrepreneurship business plan competition at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 31, in the AMU Henke Lounge.

To register for either event, contact Laura Furey, graduate assistant for community service and sustainability, at 8-5791.

Prakash has dedicated his life to the promotion of human rights and social justice issues. In 2001 Prakash founded Prashant, a center dedicated to the promotion of human rights, justice and peace, also based in Ahmedabad, where he continues to serve as the director.

Prakash is serving as the 2009-10 Wade Scholar at Marquette. The Wade Scholar is supported through an endowment established in 1988 by the Marquette Jesuit community to honor Father Francis C. Wade, S.J., a member of the Marquette Jesuit community and Department of Philosophy for more than 40 years. As the Wade Scholar, Prakash will present to classes, visit with student groups and meet with faculty engaged with social justice and human rights, in addition to his public lecture. He will be on campus through the end of the year.

The University Academic Senate approved a recommendation for a new master of science degree in clinical mental health counseling earlier this week.

The MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is being proposed by the Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology in the College of Education, comprising 60 credit hours. It will have three specialties — addiction-mental health counseling, rehabilitation counseling, and child-adolescent-family counseling.

The proposed degree program stems from the counseling common core curriculum, which is based upon the essential knowledge, skills and dispositions that are fundamental to the counseling profession, according to Dr. Todd C. Campbell, chair and associate professor of counselor education and counseling psychology. “The proposed new MS provides significant added value for prospective students, current students, alumni and the department in general,” said Campbell. “Students in the clinical mental health counseling specialty will develop the professional knowledge, skills and practices necessary to address a wide variety of circumstances within clinical mental health counseling and rehabilitation counseling, broadening their employment and professional opportunities.”

The new MS requires approval by the university provost, president and board of trustees and will be submitted as an agenda item for the board’s December meeting.

6. 2009 senior survey results show high student satisfaction

The 2009 survey of graduating seniors revealed a high student satisfaction rate, with 71 percent of 2009 graduates saying “yes” or “absolutely yes” when asked if they had to start over, would they attend Marquette again, up seven percent from 2008. The annual Senior Survey, administered each April, addresses graduating seniors’ institutional learning outcomes, plans for the immediate future and engagement in co-curricular learning experiences at Marquette.

New to the 2009 survey was a series of questions that asked seniors to evaluate how their Marquette education improved their abilities related to the university’s institutional learning outcomes. More than half of all respondents said their education “markedly improved” in the categories of using critical thinking and reflection; creating change in self/others/community; communicating effectively; exercising just, responsible and competent leadership, and seeking a comprehensive vision of life. Only 36 percent of students, however, indicated their education “markedly improved” in understanding global social justice issues.

A series of questions asked seniors about their participation in co-curricular learning experiences:
• 87 percent of 2009 seniors participated in student organizations and community service.

• Marquette students spend approximately 444,000 hours performing community service each year.

• The greatest co-curricular learning impact came from experiences with longer duration and intensity, such as study abroad and internships, similar to 2008.

• When factoring participation rates and perceived impact levels, 2009 and 2008 seniors indicated that participation in a student organization had the greatest impact of all the co-curricular learning opportunities measured.

The economy had a significant impact on student responses to post-graduation plans, according to Dr. Jon Dooley, senior associate dean of student development. Fewer students had applied for jobs or had offers at the time of the survey administration in April. More students had applied to graduate schools and the percentage of seniors who had applied for full-time service positions in 2009 (16 percent) doubled from 2008.

7. Toronto professor to discuss G8 and G20 process

The Center for Global and Economic Studies will host Dr. Ella Kokotsis, Director of Research, G8/G20 Research Group, University of Toronto, in honor of the Centennial Celebration of Women at Marquette. Kokotsis will present “From Competition to Cooperation: Assessing the Evolving Relationship of the G8 and G20 Process” Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Weasler Auditorium. Her program is co-sponsored by the International Affairs Program. A reception will follow in the AMU Henke Lounge.

9. Milwaukee Brewers vice president to speak at Law School

Milwaukee Brewers’ Vice President and General Counsel Marti Wronski will be a guest for On the Issues With Mike Gousha on Wednesday, Oct. 28, from noon to 1 p.m. in Sensenbrenner 325.

Wronski oversees all legal and contract work for the team, including negotiating players' and coaches’ contracts and sponsorship contracts. Before joining the Brewers in December 2003, Wronski worked as an assistant professor of legal writing at Marquette and was a litigation associate at Foley and Lardner.

Gousha, an award-winning journalist, continues his “On the Issues” series of provocative and insightful interviews with local and national public officials, journalists and other newsmakers throughout the year. A complete schedule is available online.

12. Gesu to celebrate 4 p.m. Sunday Mass

13. Native Americans to discuss their professional success over a free lunch

Career Services Center will host a free POWER Lunch on Monday, Oct. 26, from noon to 1 p.m. in AMU 157. A panel of Native American career professionals will share their stories regarding their career decision-making and challenges. For more information, call the Career Services Center at 8-7423.

14. Workshop offered for graphic design and social networking

The workshop is part of a hybrid teaching series that focuses on developing and teaching hybrid/blended courses. Hybrid courses combine classroom-based and online teaching and learning. A goal of the workshop series is for each participant to prepare an instructional module for use online this coming spring semester. Faculty who attend the six workshops and prepare an online module will receive a certificate of completion. All requirements do not need to be met in one semester. The series will be offered every semester. Space is limited.

17. "Synchronous technology" to be presented

The presentation is part of a D2L e-teaching workshop series focusing on a variety of course design and multimedia resources to enhance teaching in D2L. A certificate is presented to participants who complete all seven sessions. The e-teaching workshops are offered every semester, so it is not necessary to attend all seven sessions in one semester.

18. Blood drives taking place next week

The all-university blood drive will take place Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the AMU ballrooms. Appointments can be made online. Walk-ins are also welcome. Contact Ali Myszewski, AMU assistant director, at 8-3129 for more information.

ROTC will also host a blood drive Friday, Oct. 30, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Old Gym A100. Schedule an appointment at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE. Walk-ins are also welcome.

News Briefs is published for Marquette students, faculty and staff every Monday and Thursday, except during summer and academic breaks when only the Monday edition is published. The deadline for the Monday edition is noon Friday. The deadline for the Thursday edition is noon Wednesday. Highest priority notices as determined by university leadership are also sent periodically.